richards



(No Model.) 8 shets-fsheet 1. F. H. RICHARDS.

' ENVBLOPE GOUNTING, PACKING, AND BANDING MACHINE.-

Patented Deo. 21, 1886..

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N. PETERS. PMlvLilMgmpher. Wnhngwn. D. C.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. H; RICHARDS..

BNVBLOPB OOUNTING, PACKING, AND BA'NDING MACHINE.A

No. 354,738. llen'ented De@as 21, 1886..

[n vento?? Wz'mewes:

N4 P'ETEns Pmvuxhognpm. wmhimw, DA c.

(No M0881.) I s sheets-Sheet. 8.

. I'. ERIGHARDS. ENVBLOPB GOU'NTING,'PA8K1NG, AND BANDING MACHINE.

Patented D80. 21, 1888.

N. PETERS. Plmm-Llmgnpher, Washington, D. C.

(NoModel.) l va sheets-sheet 4.

f5 H. RICHARDS.

ENVBLOPE 00UNTING,' PACKING-,AND BANDING MACHINE.

N. PETERS. Fhniohlhvgrapher.'Washinginm D. C.

- (No Model.)

I'. H. RICHARDS.

, ENVBLOPE GOUNTING, PAGKING, AND BANDING MACHINE. No. 354,738. PatentedDec. 21, 1886..

e If un s sheets-sheet 5.

n PETERS. nmumognpmr. wnmngm, nu

(No Model.) s sheets-.sheet 6.

F. H. RICHARDS. ENVELPB GOUNTING, PACKING, AND `BANDINGr MACHINE.

Patented Deo. 21, 1886.

. N. Pneus mwxrwmpfwr. WMM u (No Model.) l s sheetssheet 7.

P. E. RICHARDS.

BNVBLOPE G0 UNlI1\G,v PACKING, AND BANDINGMAGHINB. No. 354,738. Patented Deo. 21', 1886.

(No Model.) 8 .Sheets-Sheet 8.

P. H.' RICHARDS.

NNNBLOPB COUNTING, PACKING, AND BANDING MACHINE.

No.'354,7.38. Y Patented Dec'Zl, 1886.

Witnesses;

N4 PETERSv Pmumnagmpher. c

j ment on the mechanism shown in my applica- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASS., ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO THE PRATT & VHITNEY COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONN.

ENVELOPECOUNTING, PACKING, AND BANDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,738,1ilated December 21, 1886.

Application filed January 19, 1855. Renewed March 13; 1886. Serial No. 195,154. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FEANcIs H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Counting, Packing, and Banding Envelopes and Similar Articles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying eight sheets of drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to machinery for the counting and packing of envelopes, cards, papers and similar articles into bunches of given numbers, and to the banding of the said bunches, the whole constituting an improvetion, Serial N o. 134,480,1liled June 10, 1884, to which reference may be had.

It has for its object to furnish mechanism for receiving said articles from printing, folding, or other machines as they are delivered therefrom in the usual manner, and to automatically count, pack into bunches, and band the same, ready for boxing.

It consists -in certain improvements and combinations-l of mechanism, whichvwill first be described, in connection with the drawings, as adapted for counting, packing, and bandingfenvelopes, and afterward pointed out inA the claims. l

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention, the main shaft of the envelopemachin-e to which the same is attached not being shown. Fig. 2 is a front side eleva-tion. Fig.3 is a right-hand end elevation, partially in section. Fig. 4 is a plan of a part of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a left-hand. end elevation with certain parts removedl Fig. A6 is a sectionA in line b b, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a front view of the machine, partially in section. Fig..8 is a top View, partially in section, of the packingbox and counting mechanism. Fig. 9 is a rear side view of this mechanism. Fig. 10 is a section in line xx, Fig. 8, with certain 'parts broken away. Fig. 11is a section of the packing-box in line Y Y, Fig. 9. Fig.,12 is an-enlargedfront view of the knock-off mechanism-shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of a part of Fig. 5. Fig. 15 is another View, partially in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is an ,enlarged top View of a part of the shuttle M. Fig. 17 is an enlarged vertical section of the same part. section in line Z Z, Fig. 7. Fig. 19 is a top View of a part of lever-H. Fig. 20 is a side view of apart of lever H. Fig. 21 is a longitudinal vertical section through the shuttle and roll of paper tubing. Fig. 22 is an end view of the parts shown inFig. 21. Fig. 23 shows the position of the cutter-roll when at rest. Fig. 24 shows the position just before and after cutting. Fig. 25 shows the position of said cutter when it is cutting. Fig.26 is a vertical longitudinal section through a part of the packingbox and band-carrier, showing a bunch of envelopes in the operation of banding.

out the several views. l

The frame A2, Whichholds most of the machinery,is attached to the bed A of an envelopefolding Inachine, from which it derives its power. On the top of frame A2 is thepackingbox A3,which receives the envelopesk one at a Fig. 18 is a vertical time and holds them until the counting mechanism registers the number required for a bunch, when they are pushed along by plunger J through a band-carrier, T2, the band being pushed off by the shifter T3 while the bunch is on its way through said band-carrier, as shown in Fig. 26, thus leaving the baud in the middle of the bunch, the bunch, however, continuing uninterruptedly to the position of E. (Shown in dotted' lines in Fig. l.) From this position it is carried by the vibrating arm V2 to the end of the line of piles E2' of the same iigure,the band-carrier in the meantime moving to the horizontal position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, to receive another band.

Such being the general operation, briefly described, I will ynow proceed to a detailed de- 7o Similar letters refer to similar parts throughshaft M, and arm M.

packer D, by means of forked rod O, arm O,

The fork at the end of rod O straddles the shaft Sl, and is thus kept in position vertically by said shaft. The rod Ois provided with roll C, revolving on a stud, C7, which is secured to the rod. Roll Cis kept 'in contact with the cam by means of spring O2,

connected to rod O, as shown. The opposite end of rod O is connected to arm O* by means of pin O5; and said arm O is rmly secured to and operates oscillating shaft M3, which shaft has secured to its opposite end the arm M, carrying at its upper end the packing-plate D. This plate is secured in place on said arm by clamping its stem by means of a screw,D. Cani C2, aided by spring O2, acts to impart a reclprocating motion to rod O, which is thereby communicatedthrough arm O, shaft M3, arm M, to packing-plate D. An envelope, E, is dropped from the usual endless apron into the position shown by the dotted line in Fig. 10,

-and pushed by the movement of D into th'e packing-box A3, as shown in Fig. 1l.

This packing-box carries the counting mechanism, hereinafter described, and is provided with a plunger, J, whereby the full bunches of envelopes are discharged from said box.

For operating the plunger, thedriving-shaft S, Fig. 4, carriesa cam, C, which works said plunger by means ofthe lever L and connecting-rod C3, Fig. 2. The lever L is pivoted at J, Fig. 3, and carries at one end a roll, R, which moves against cam C, and at the other end is connected by the stud H3 to connecting-rod C3, Fig. 2. The roll Ris kept in contact with cam C by spring L. The lever L has also attached to it a roll, L, pressing against which is the lever-cam L, which cam is made fast to arm L7 and oscillates on pivot L". On rod H2 is placed a spiral spring, K, which keeps it in contact with arm L, and hence the cam L6 in contact with roll\L. The shaft S', carrying cam C, rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, and thus allows lever L to be moved by the spring L3 to the position shown by the dotted lines, Figs. l and, 4, which lever atvthe saine time moves cam L6 to the position also shown in dotted lines in said figures, the arm L7 at the same.

time moving the rod H, for apurpose hereinafter explained. The plunger J, which slides in box A, is connected-to rod C by pin J9,

and lis pushed through said box to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 by the 1ever L, acting through said connecting-rod C, the packing-plate D in the meantime remaining in its inward position until the envelopes are pushed out of the packing-box. 4

The power for driving the counting mechanism about to be described is obtained from arm M by means of pawl B, connected thereto at M, which pawl turns the ratchet-wheel?. The 4counting mechanism is carried by the packing-box Aa as a frame, the construction of whichwillbe readily understood from the drawings. Ratchet-wheel P, having a'cylindrical projection or hub on one side thereof,

is made hollow to serve as a bearing for shaft S, Fig. 8. The exterior of said cylinder` is clamped by cap J, which is lined with a leather friction-piece to hold the ratchet'from turning while the pawl is moving upward. The ends of said ratchet-Wheel are clamped between two leather washers, J", through which its motion is communicated to shaft S. The said washers are held against said ratchet by disks I6, the pressure of which is regulated by nut 17. On the opposite end of shaft Ss is screwed a collar,`N3. A spiral spring, J5, is wound around the shaft S3 and one end firmly secured in said collar N, while the opposite end is fastened to disk W. The nut IT is screwed up until the desired friction is obtained between ratchet P and shaft S3, (which friction, however, must be less than between pawl Pand cap J8.) If now the disk remains stationary, the turning of pawl P produces a I, working into the lescapement-Wheel 1.,

This escapement-wheel revolves about its center Pfand is provided with a pinion,'G*, which meshes into gear G. Gear G is attached to disk W, which revolves therewith about` the shaft S?, on which it/is loosely fitted.

The envelope in entering the packing-box from the position shown by the dotted line in Fig. 10 pushes against and separates the hooks I to their positionfas shown by the dotted lines in the same ligure. The hooks, owing to their construction, are returned by gravity to their former position after the envelope has passed their points, and thus they prevent the envelopes from being pushed outward. The force of spring J 5 being communicated by'disk W through gear G and pinion G'l to escapement-wheel l, revolves said wheel through the distance of one tooth, whenever it is allowed to do so, by the moving of the pallet to its position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 10. OamC at each revolution pushes plunger J away from disk W, so that the friction of J* against W does not prevent its turning around. The disk W -has notches V cut in its periphery, and

when one of these arrives opposite the rib J* it allows said rib to pass through, and thereby the plunger J to pass through box A3 to its Adotted position in Fig. `1, at the same time pushing the bunch of envelopes before it. The size of gear-wheels G'l and G, also the number of notches in disk W, are regulated according toV the number of envelopes A wantedv in the bunch, whichis usually twenty-five, as in the present instance. The bunch in passing IOC IIS

A ting off of said tube will be more fully expower to said shaft S, the longitudinalmotion of which is prevented by collars F. Said shaft has firmly secured thereto disk D2, which transmits power through an ordinary friction-box, D5, Fig. 2, having leather disks F3, to gear G5, and thence through gears G4 and G3 to the toothed ring A5, the gears G4 and G3 being secured to the same sleeve and turning on the stud A2. To the ring A5 is fastened stud S, onto which is loosely fitted the arm A2, having both an oscillating and a sliding movement on said stud. One end of this arm has a stud, S5, and the other end the cam-roll B. The stud .carries a roll, G5, and a circular cutter, C2, which are fixed to each other. Said roll is held laterally against shuttle M by spring A2,

acting on arm A2, while spring S6 acts to slide' said arm longitudinally on the stud S, to-press said cutter` against the end of the shuttle.

Shuttle M, which has a wedge-shaped outer end, and which is provided with small rolles R2, is kept in place by rolls R2 and prevented from lateral movement by rolls R5. A long paper tube Vof sufficient size to admit of a bunch of envelopes being slipped in endwise is made in a separate machine-such a Inachine, for instance, as the part of a paper-bag machine, in which the tube is made before being made into bags. The said tube is rolled around the center F6, Fig. 21,' about which it is supported, the outer end of which tube FT passes on at the end W2, and over the entire length of said shuttle onto the band-carrier T2, the distance beyond the end of the shuttle being the required width of the band. The cut-1 plained hereinafter. f

Shaft S has fastened to its end gear G, meshing into a gear, GT, which is provided with the friction-box D2, constructed like friction-box D2', for transmitting motion to shaft S2. A On this shaft'S2, Fig. 12, is placed: the

spiral blade U, which is preferably a short section'of a worm having a very coarse pitch. Thisblade gears into worm-wheel U2, and advances said worm-wheel one tooth at every revolution of the shaft S2, the advance taking place whilethe shaft S2 turns through a s'niall part of a revolution. This is an old device and will be readily understood without an elaborate description. l

Worm-wheel U2 is fastened to shaft R6, and thus transmits motion through said shaft and gears H4 to shaft R7, the said Y gears being secured c to their respective shafts R6 and R2,

which shafts carry rolls R2, fixed thereto. The

`The sliding friction between rolls R* and thel paper being greater than the rolling friction between rolls R2 and the paper, plusthe friction of rolls R2 on their bearings, said rolls R* are therefore able to draw the paper over shuttle M, while holding said shuttle rmly in place. Thus the rells R2 serve to feed the paper along on the shuttle at a speed and through a distance depending on the motion of said rolls. A

time of action of the circular cutter C2 by means of the cam-lever H, which lever swings on stud H2, and has a roll, H", on one end thereof, whereby it is operated from'cam H5, From a point near the middle of H an arm, H2, Fig. 6, extends downward, and to its extremity a spring, K2, is connected to keep roll H in contact with cam H5. The tension of said spring is adjusted in the usual manner by means of the nut on bolt K2.

On the outer end of lever H is formed cam BT, Fig. 19, for sliding arm A7 along stud S*, for the purpose of carrying the circular cutter away from the end of shuttle M to a position shown in Fig. 24'. Lever H has also another cam, B6, Fig. 20, which presses against roller B, thus revolving arm ATslightly about stud S2, and thereby moving the cutter-cylinder C5 off from shuttle M, as shown in Fig. 23,

the motion of translation along the stud bei ing the first to take place, so there is no dan- Shaft S2 carries cam`H5, forlrcgulating the ger of dulling therolling-cutter,asthere might be if the motion of rotation took place first.

To shaft M2 is firmly attached arm T2,Which at one end carries roll T5, which rolls `in contact with cam P2. On the same hub-'with arm T6 is another arm,T7, and attached to this arm is the band-carrier T2. Shaft M2 carries another arm, M2, to which is attached the band-shifting arm T2, consisting of a fork-shaped piece, one tine of which passes on each side of said bandshifter carrier, as shown best in Figs. 6 and 7. The band-carrier has two grooves, N5, in each side, in which slide suitable projections on the shifter T3, the object of this construction being to get these four projectionsagaist the edge of the envelope-band without giving any-opportunity for this to get Aunder them. Fixed to rod H2 is an arm, T2, the oute'r` end of which ts a groove in the hub of the shifterarm-M, and thus acts to slide said arm longitudinally on said shaft without preventing it from rotating with the band-carriers-Both the band-carrier T2 and shifter T3 are preferably made adj ustable on their respective arms, being held in position by screws T2, as 'shown in Fig. 7. Thus the band-shifter is operated in one direction through rod H2, (which .rod receives its motion from the lever-cam L, hereinbefore described,) being moved in the other direction by spring K on said rod. Fixed to theother end of shaft M2 is a gear, G8, which meshes with gear G", which is'xed to shaft V2, to the upper end of whichthere is secured the bunch-carrier V2. The motion of vICBO shaft M2 is communicated through gears G2 and G9, and shaft V2', and thus rotates the bunch-carrier through the arc required, delivering the bunches as fast as banded into a trough, F2, for conducting them to a convenientposition for boxingv The disengagement of cam P3 allows shaft S2 to revolve, and' thus motion is communicated to the machinery operated by said shaft, as will be hereinafter explained. l

Shaft S2 is kept from rotating by lever P5, a separate view of which is shown in Figs. 12 and 13. This lever is pivoted at P5, and has at its lower end a hook, which engages with another hook, P5, Fig. 12, on the side of cam P5. To the upper end of lever P5 is pivoted lever P2 by means of screw P2.

On the right-hand end of lever P7 isahook engaging with stop P2, fastened to rod H2 and moving with it. Lever P7 is prevented from rotating too far on screw P9 by means of stop Q2 on lever P5, and is pressed against this stop by spring Q5. Lever P5 is prevented from rotating beyond cam P3 by stop W3 in frame A", against which stop it is pressed by spring P. (See Figs. 12 and 13.) Stop P5 when at rest is in the position indicated by the dotted lines, and when rod H2 moves to the left hand stop Papresses down the hook oflever PT and passes V by it, after which lever P7 resumes its original 25.

position,"'as shown by the full lines in Fig. 12. Rod H2 now moves tothe right to its former position, and stop PB moves hook P2, and also lever P5, to the position shown in said ligure, thus disengaging the hook on cam P5, which cam 'immediately begins to turn, While the said levers P5 and P7 are returned by the springs to their first positions, (shown in solid lines in Fig. 12,) ready to stop cam P3 when it shall have completed one revolution. This leverand-hook mechanism is or may be essentially the same iu construction and operation as the fordinary gong-bell pull now in common use,

and hence it will be readily understood from the drawings.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: The envelopeshaving accumulated in the packingbox Q, Fig. 1, until the counter registers the number required for a bunch, one of the slots Vin disk W comes in line with rib J", and the plunger pushes the bunch through said box by one continuous movement to the position E, Fig. 1. When in its passage, however', the middle of the pack reaches the band-carrier T2, the baud on T2 is pushed ofi by the band-shifter T5, which is operated by lever L, communicatingits motion through rod H2in the manner before described, and shown in Fig. 26. As the plunger J rel turns to its original position the rod H2 returns with it, and in doing so returns the bandshifter also to its original position. The rod H2 in returning also pushes the lever P5, Fig. 2, oif from the stop on cam P3, and thus sets in motion the mechanism operated or allowed to operate by the revolving of shaft S2, which shaft, be it remembered, derives its motion from shaft S through gears G5 and G and friction-box D5, as already described, and carries the said cam P3 for operating bandcarrier T2. The revolving of shaft S2 operates the bunch-carrier V2 by means of mechanism before described, and ,rotates it. through half a revolution to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig.'1, at the same time pushing before it the bunch E into line with the bunches E2, where it is held on one side by those bunches and on the other by hooks W2, similar to hooks I in thepacking-box. The band-carrier T moves'simultaneously with the `,movement of bunch-carrier V2. t'o the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 and the paper tube F enveloping shuttle M is pushed forward over the carrier T2 the width of one band beyond the end of the shuttle by means of the tube-feedingmechanism before described. The lever Hisnow moved by' cam H5 to the position shown by thedotted lines, Fig. 6, thereby al lowing spring A to revolve cutter-arm A1 about the stud S* until the cutter-cylinder (Y presses the side of the shuttle, as shown in Fig. 24, (the paper only being between them.) Next itallows the toothed ring A5, which carries said arm, to rotate, and at the same time the spring S6 slides the arm A7 on said stud S, so that the rotary cutter Opresses against the end of the shuttle M, as shown in Figs. 21 and 25. The same motion of arm H which allows the cut-ter C to fall into the position shown in Fig. 25 also removes the resistance to rotation of ring A5, which ring is then revolved by the gearing and friction-box described until the arm AT and said cutter carried thereon have passedV Aaround the shuttle nearly two revolutions, thereby cutting off a bandfrom the tube of'band material F2, and leaving it on the band-carrier T2, when cam H6 and spring K2 return the lever H to its original position, at the. same time moving the cutter-roll C* away from the shuttle, as before de scribed, iirst to the position shown in Fig. 24, and then to the position shown in Fig. 23. This carrier now returns (carrying the band on it) to its vertical position, and at the same time, by means of the gearing described for that purpose, the bunch-carrier V2 is revolved through a half-circle to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, (it having previously been in the position shown in dotted lines in said figure.)

I have described this machine as being attached to an envolope-foldingmachine bed,

A, and deriving its motion from thel main shaft S7 of thesame, which shaft makes one revolution for each envelope folded.

Although I have herein shown my inven tion as fitted to the bed of one form of envelopefolding machine, it is also applicable to other kindsof machines for the same purpose. The mechanism shown in Fig. 4, consisting of cams C and C2, levers L and L", rods O, and pulley N, and their accessory parts, is but one means ofcommunicating motion from shaft S2 t0 the partsy held by frame A2, which frame holds the machinery embodyipg the most essential part of my invention. The bunch-carrier Vis but, one way -of moving the bunches after they are banded, and is not an essential part of my invention.

,In this application I make no claim to the substantially as described, .for driving/"said 15 shaft S3, substantially as set forth.'

2. The combination of a band-carrier, a bandshifter, mechanism, substantially as described, for operating said carrier and shifter, and tube feeding and cutting mechanism for placing a band onto said carrier, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a shuttle, a carrierring having shaft S4, acutter-arm on said shaft having a cutter and roll, substantially as described, a` spring to swing said arm on said shaft, and a lever, H, for lifting said cutter from the shuttle and stopping the rotation of said ring, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the carrier-ring and its cutter-arm, of lever H, having cams 3o B6 and B7, substantially as described. A

5. In an envelope-banding machine, the combination of shaft M, an arm fixed on said shaft and provided with band Icarrier T, and an arm which is adapted to slide on said shaft 35 and has aband-shifter, T3, substantially as described.

6. The combination of band-carrier T", having side grooves, N5, and the band-shifter T3, having projections fitting into said grooves, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a packing-box, de'- vices, substantially as described, for packing envelopes into said box, mechanism, substantially as described, for feeding and cuttingoff 45 bands, a band carrier'and shifter adapted Ato receive the band from the feeding and cutting'- off mechanism and deliver it onto a bunch of envelopes which are passing through said carrier, and means, substantiallyas described, for 5o putting said bunch'out of said box through said carrier, substantially as set forth.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

H. W; FAULKNER, R. L. PEoK. 

